FBI arrests Utahn in theft of $1 million

FBI agents have arrested a Taylorsville man who allegedly embezzled more than $1 million from a South Salt Lake computer company where he was the financial controller.

Jesse Lloyd, 50, was arrested Monday, FBI spokesman George Dougherty said. Lloyd was arraigned in U.S. District Court Monday afternoon and was scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Ronald M. Boyce Tuesday for a detention hearing.Lloyd faces two felony counts of wire fraud. Each carries a penalty of up to five years in prison

and $250,000 in fines.

Charges filed in U.S. District state that between July 16 and July 28, 1997, Lloyd took money from the bank accounts of Uinta Business Systems Inc. on two occasions.

Lloyd allegedly transferred $116,102 into his personal credit card accounts and $891,800 into his personal bank accounts. As financial controller, Lloyd had sole control of the financial records and bank accounts for the company, the complaint states.

Uinta Business Systems Inc., 2250 S. Main St., has been in business for 25 years and is owned by Joe Weis.

Contacted by the Deseret News Tuesday, no one from the company was available for comment.

Lloyd's alleged mishandling of funds was apparently detected by the company's chief financial officer and reported to the FBI earlier this month. The complaint also indicates that when confronted by company officials, Lloyd admitted to taking the money and said he wanted to pay it back. His employment has been terminated.